EU funds project to assist fishermen in Vanni, Jaffna Islets

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 May 2004, 18:07 GMT]The Human Development Center (HUDEC) in Jaffna district is to implement a project funded by the European Union to improve the living standards and employment opportunities of fishermen in Vanni region and Jaffna peninsula, HUDEC Director Fr.R.Jeyakumar said. Restrictions and ban imposed by the Sri Lanka military in many parts of Northeastern coastal areas severely affected the livelihood of many fishermen during the two decades old war.

A sum of 43 million rupees has been allocated to fund the first phase of the project, Fr.Jeyakumar said.

Of this amount 22 million rupees would be spent for the development activities of Vanni fishermen and 21 million rupees to assist fishermen in islets of the Jaffna district, according to the Director.

Fisher families who have lost fishing gear in the war would be provided with assistance under this project, Fr.Jeyakumar said.

Meanwhile a non-governmental organization in Australia has agreed to fund a project to launch a development programme to assist women who have been
affected by the war in Vanni and Jaffna district through the HUDEC, sources said.